Hanging loosely or sagging, especially clothes that are too large or have lost their shape.
From 'bag' + the adjectival suffix '-y.' The term became common in English by the 1700s as a way to describe clothing that resembled a bag in its loose shape.
In the 1990s, 'baggy' clothing became an iconic part of hip-hop fashion—oversized jeans and shirts were expensive (designer brands cost more) but were worn intentionally loose as a fashion statement, completely flipping the meaning from 'poorly fitted' to 'cool'!
Baggy clothing was masculinized in 1990s culture, while fitted clothing remained feminine norm. Women in baggy clothes faced judgment as unfeminine; gendered dress codes enforced shape visibility.
Use 'baggy' neutrally to describe fit. Recognize that comfort and clothing choice shouldn't be gendered; all people deserve freedom from forced body visibility.
Women resisting fitted clothing requirements—from schoolgirls to activists—asserted autonomy over their bodies; baggy silhouettes were liberation.
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